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Young talent stars as France stun New Zealand with big win at Perth SVNS

Antoine Zeghdar of France and Akuila Rokolisoa of New Zealand exchange words during the 2024 Perth SVNS men's match between New Zealand and France at HBF Park on January 26, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Rising star Theo Forner has been described as “one of the most naturally talented players” in the French sevens setup after their big win over the All Blacks Sevens in Perth.

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Forner, 22, had only represented France at nine tournaments before taking the field at HBF Park on Friday afternoon. But it might’ve been his best performance in the famed blue jersey.

Drawn in a pool of death alongside New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa, the Frenchman shot out of the blocks with a statement 33-17 win over the All Blacks Sevens on Australia’s west coast.

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Aaron Grandidier Nkanang talks to RugbyPass after France beat All Blacks Sevens

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Aaron Grandidier Nkanang talks to RugbyPass after France beat All Blacks Sevens

Forner opened the scoring in just the second minute and the youngster added another score on either side of the break to secure a headline-grabbing hat-trick for France.

New Zealand couldn’t hold on. It wasn’t even that close in the end with a try to Cody Vai in the 16th minute making the score a tad more respectable for the reigning world champions.

“It feels amazing for us. The last three or four times we’ve played each other it’s been really close and they’ve edged in front,” Frenchman Aaron Grandidier Nkanang told RugbyPass.

“For us to have a good win like this today really puts us in good stead for the rest of the competition.

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“I’m so proud of him,” he added when asked about teammate Theo Forner.

“Theo is one of the most naturally talented players we have on the team so when we get to see him express himself like that, it brings us a smile to all of our faces.”

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It’s an important win for Les Bleus who continue to stamp their mark on the new-look SVNS Series after a slow start in Dubai last month.

France secured a ninth-place finish with a win over Great Britain in the desert before bouncing back with an improved showing in Cape Town a week later.

But it’s all leading to the Paris Olympics in six months. Franc are the hosts and they’ll be eager to put on a show when they take the field at Stade de France.

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By then, France’s 15s star Antoine Dupont is expected to be among their ranks. The former World Rugby Player of the Year joined the squad in camp earlier this month for the first time.

“Any player or member of staff has to do a little initiation for us. It’s not anything particularly strange, it’s just 10 burpees,” Grandidier Nkanang said.

“He just did his burpees and we had him for the rest of the day.

“It was nice to get to meet him, to get to know him a bit better because obviously, I’ve only known him from the TV.

“I’m excited to see what he can bring to the team.”

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2 Comments
A
Andrew 283 days ago

Stunned? Only if you havent realised the 7s guys have well and truly dropped off the pace this season.

P
Pecos 283 days ago

Mikkleson 37, Curry 35, Dickson 34, are too many old guys to keep in this squad. They are creating a bottleneck for emerging talent game time. All 3 should retire now imo.

The next generation of experienced guys are Solia 31, Collier 32, & Nicole 30. But they can’t fully step in until the geriatrics are shifted on. Instead all six are in the same squad. And the team’s lack of speed, work rate, & dynamism, is there for all to see with shakey results.

This is getting ridiculous. Time for a clean out.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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